Cleaning device for glasses, bottles, and the like



Sept. 29, 19346. E, D, WOLFE 2,056,030`

CLEANING DEVICE FOR GLASSES, BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed June 2o, 19:55

J? 'EA g IE Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PATENT OFFICE v CLEANING DEVICE FORv GLASSES,-

BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Elmer D. Wolfe, Ottawa, Ill.

Application June 20, 1935, Serial No. 27,460

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a cleaning device for hollow articles, and concerns itself primarily with a cylindrical brushing member which is mounted for rotary movement when pressure is applied in an axial direction for rubbing and cleansing the interior surface of a hollow article telescoped thereover.

The cylindrical brushing member is preferably mounted in a uid container and is adapted for becoming more or less immersed when the same is depressed so that the same rotates in a cleaning fluid and imparts a whirling motion thereto that assists in the cleaning operation.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a cleansing device involving this invention mounted in a fluid container shown in section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the cleansing device showing a part in elevation and broken.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon the line III-III of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated comprises a hollow tubular member I, preferably of metal, having bristles 2 attached thereto in any suitable manner` The bristles 2 are so attached and formed as to provide a cylindrical body portion adapted for engaging the interior vertical wall of a vessel to be cleansed and an upper curved or rounded portion designed for engaging the bottom of a vessel to be cleansed. To this end, the bristles adjacent the upper end of the device slope upwardly fan-like and the bristles at the top end of the device are attached to the sides of a reduced portion 3 on the member I. A flexible or rubber cap 4 is attached upon the end of the reduced portion to protect the bottom of the vessel from coming in contact with the upper end of the reduced portion 4. The rubber cap 4 may be attached in any suitable manner. In the present instance, it is shown as provided with a shank 5 that extends into a bore in the reduced extension 4.

A cap 6 is threaded upon the lower end of the member I and a helical member 'I extends through the end of the cap with which it has a spirally threaded relation. The upper end 8 of the spiral member extends into the member I and is provided with a guiding bushing rigidly secured thereto and which is adapted to form a bearing with respect to the member I which, it will be observed, is provided with a cylindrical 5 interior bore I0 that extends from the bottom to a point adjacent the top thereof. A coil spring I I within the bore I0 is confined between the top of such bore and the top of the bushing 9 and spiral element l. It will be noted that the cap 6 is formed with an annular shoulder against which the lower end of the sleeve 9 is forced to effectively exclude the washing fluid.

The lower end of the spiral element I is xedly secured in a base I2 which may consist of a plurality of radially extending arms I2a having feet I3 attached thereto that are adapted to rest upon the bottom of the fluid container.

In the use of this device, it is positioned within a fluid container that is open at the top, as shown in Figure 1, and wherein the fluid rises to a suitable height to cause the bristles to become immersed as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Of course, the height of the fluid in the container may be varied as desired in order to produce the most eiective results. The articles to be cleansed, which may consist of drinking glasses, cups or the like, are placed one at a time over or in telescopic relation with the cleansing device. Pressure is then applied to immerse the same in the fluid and cause a rotation of the cleansing device. It will be obvious that as the cleansing device is moved downwardly into the fluid, the cap 6 and the member I will be caused to rotate around the spiral 1 which is lixed against 35 rotation. At the same time, the bushing or sleeve 9 will cause a compression of the spring II as the device is forced downwardly, so that upon release, the spring will restore the device to its initial position.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cleansing device, a base, a spiral element having its lower end secured to said base, a tubular member having cleaning elements thereon, said spiral element having an upper end, a sleeve rigidly secured to said upper end and rotatably and slidably fitting within said tubular member, said tubular member having a lower open end for receiving said sleeve, a cap secured to the lower end of said tubular member and having an opening of less diameter than the interior diameter of said tubular member whereby an annular shoulder is formed for engagement by the lower end of said sleeve when the tubular member is in elevated position, the aperture in said cap having spiral threads tting said spiral element for causing relative rotation thereof and a spring within said tubular member pressing against said spiral element and forcing said annular shoulder against said sleeve when said tubular member is elevated by said spring.

2. In a cleansing device, a base, a spiral element secured at its lower end to said base, a hollow vertically arranged tubular member having cleansing elements thereon, said spiral element having an upper end, a sleeve secured to said upper end and rotatably and slidably fitting within said tubular member, said tubular member having an open lower end for receiving said sleeve, means connected to the lower end of said tubular member for conning said sleeve and forming a spiral passage thru which said spiral element passes, said spiral passage cooperating with said spiral element for causing relative rotation between said spiral element and said tubular member and a spring Within said tubular member bearing against said spiral element for the purpose set forth.

ELMER D. WOLFE. 

